Needs Assessment on Domestic Violence in Thangata District, Mikongoni
Harambee Care International 2013
Introduction
The area of Thangata District in Mikongoni Country is home to some 50,000 people. Out of this population, 52% constitutes women, of whom about 10% have some form of disability. In a recent request sent to this organization, Harambee Care International – a new International NGO operating in the area, by the District Commissioner and the District Development Committee, several issues affecting the area were raised. These include HIV/AIDs and domestic violence, especially against women. There were also unsubstantiated claims of sexual abuse against the women with disabilities. Such issues have notably affected initiatives aimed at uplifting women’s livelihoods in the region. As a result, this organization, in collaboration with the Australia Agency for International Development (AusAID), intends to implement a project that will address Domestic Violence as one of the key issues identified in the area. This paper outlines a summary of the needs assessment for the proposed project.
Needs Assessment is as systematic process aimed at acquiring an accurate and thorough image of the weaknesses and strengths of a community in order to respond to the socio-economic or political needs of the community for improving their living standards[1]. The process will seek to collect and examine the information about community issues then use the data for determining priority goals, developing a plan and allocating resources. All the relevant stakeholders and the community members will be involved in gathering that data[2]. The assessment will be conducted systematically following a series of steps. These will include: Clarification of the purpose of assessment, Identification of the population, determination of how to conduct the assessment, design of assessment instruments, data collection, data analysis and use/application of the acquired results. These results will be useful in implementing the project that will reduce the problem of domestic violence against women[3].
Clarification of the Objectives of the Needs Assessment
This will be the initial and very important step in the needs assessment geared towards defining the goals and objectives of the study[4]. The goals for carrying out a needs assessment for domestic violence will be
- To establish an overall view of domestic violence prevalence in Thangata district
- To determine which kind of stance the community takes on issues of domestic violence
- To find out whether the community’s equipment to handle prevailing domestic violence issues is adequate
- To establish areas for possible action.
Once defined, these goals will set a scope upon which to conduct the community needs assessment and to draw an implementation plan for the assessment4.
It will involve various activities such as: Taking stock of what we already know or what we think we know as well as identifying what we still need to know. It is also at this stage where it will be clearly defined why the needs assessment is being conducted and what we will be seeking to measure3. In addition, it will also be defined what to do with the information that will be collected and how the information will be reported. It will also be necessary to define whether the information is good enough to ease understanding or enhance user friendliness. Also important to check is whether all interested stakeholders have been involved in planning and execution of the needs assessment as well as define who will take responsibility at each step. This will call for identification of all the relevant stakeholders and allocate them responsibilities appropriately[5].
In order to clearly define the purpose of the assessment, it will be important to note that in as much as people may think they know what the community needs, it is mandatory to still consult the very community first in order to know what they wants. This will be done genuinely, and with an open mind to any changes5. The wants of the community may not necessarily be similar to their needs. It may therefore be my job to persuade the community towards needs it had not turned its eyes to. At this point, a decision will be made whether to change the direction of the study or to emphasize more on educating the community. However, a clear link will be established between our goals and those of the individuals involved. Seeking to know the needs of the community is important since without common goals, it may be impossible to get motivated and committed volunteers, clients as well as support from other stakeholders5. At this stage, the purpose is clear; the goals are set and the objectives defined.
Project Implementation
This stage will involve identification and definition of the target population, funding agencies for the project as well as the other relevant stakeholders and their roles. The target group will be the specific group of people who are facing the problem in question directly or those who are affected by the problem indirectly[6]. In our case, the target population will include: the women residing in Thangata District a good number of who reportedly face domestic violence. Specific interest will be paid on women who are engaged in small income generating activities whose husbands are said to violently demand money from them. Women with disabilities will also be keenly studied since they also reportedly fall victim of violent sexual abuse by men in the community. The men, the alleged offenders, will also be studied to find out the likely reasons why they engage in such acts. The children, who are indirectly affected by these acts and are probably witnesses of the crimes, will also be a source of crucial information6.
It is at this stage also that we shall seek to find out what is presently available in the community and who may be available to aid the assessment. These may be individuals or organizations of interest. We will seek to establish/renew links with such individuals and/or organizations6. Most importantly, we will establish working links with the Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID) which will fund the project. Other organizations that may be beneficial to the study include: Service agencies on domestic violence and domestic violence unions/coalitions. Other organizations such as family services agencies,/public assistance organizations, health centers for women, human/women’s rights groups and medical authorities. Government offices, law enforcement agencies as well as legal authorities will also provide useful information on domestic violence cases that exist within the community, their intensity and how they have been contained so far[7].
Approach and Methodology for the Needs Assessment
At this stage, a survey instrument will be designed. Several factors will be considered for proper selection of assessment instruments/methods. These include: the type of data to be collected, appropriateness of a particular method to the assessment of domestic violence in the community and feasibility of the instrument with respect to time and cost. A good survey instrument should be cost effective and time saving to use. Other factors that will be considered in selection of methods are: the anticipated accuracy and usefulness of information obtainable from a given method and the ease of analysis of such information. Care will be taken to ensure that the methods chosen yield information that is highly accurate, very useful and that is easily analyzed to achieve the desired end[8].
The needs analysis plan and tools will target specific audiences by use of tailored strategies. The primary strategies will be stakeholder interviews as well as listening sessions. The third strategy, which is less tailored, will be inquisitiveness on the perspectives of stakeholders and the way in which they describe the needs and strengths within their various communities. As stated earlier, it is important to note which type of data will be gathered. In as much as the data that will be gathered will be both quantitative as well as qualitative, our intent will be to conduct an exploration of the nuances of community barriers and strengths by emphasizing on listening sessions and interviewing stakeholders9.
It will also be important to define the study area. The needs assessment will be conducted in Thangata district of the country of Mikongoni. Throughout the process, we will learn from five main constituencies. These include: Disability advocacy and services organizations, domestic violence agencies, sexual assault organization and Coalitions on Domestic Violence.
Development of a comprehensive action strategy is also important at this stage. We shall also seek to collaborate with existing organizations and programs on domestic violence that may be having excellent resources. Collaboration will allow individuals as well as organizations to get involved without much investment of time by and resources. It will also prevent cases of duplication of activities and enhance united force in fighting domestic violence. The existing agencies can always help in planning as well as implementing a prosperous project[9].
Data collection methods that will be used in the needs assessment include: Interviews, surveys, community forums, existing government statistics and data such as census data and findings on public health. Another important method is Surveys. This will include both large and widespread surveys and small surveys often known as focused groups10. Small group discussions and participant observation will also be used as a useful means of data collection. Existing data will be used because there is a wide range of detailed statistical data that is available and that can reveal important characteristics of a community. These statistics exist in form of census data, police reports, labor surveys, hospital information, newspapers and newsletters revealing community conditions. Since this method utilizes already existing data, it can be executed relatively quickly and it will be easy to chart trends over time[10].
The survey is an important method in which information is collected from a representative sample in order to reveal certain characteristics of the entire community. Data will be gathered through personal interviews, questionnaires, telephone surveys. Both mail as well as hand delivered questionnaires will be used. The survey will be used since it is a reliable and valid method of data collection. It also gives representative attitudes covering a wide range of people and can attain information on behavioral trends and opinions of the community concerning the issue of domestic violence. Besides the survey, community forums will also be preferred because it provides a wider setting which encourages the community members towards discussing their community needs, prioritizing the needs and strategies to address these needs. It is a simple and expensive method which gets input comes from a large range of individuals. It also promotes good public interrelations and may have planning benefits[11].
Data Analysis and Interpretation
The last stage in the process of needs assessment will involve a careful analysis and interpretation of the obtained data and findings respectively. Spreadsheet software may be used to analyze and graph results obtained from surveys while results from focused groups will be used to create a summary list of findings. Careful data analysis will also involve disaggregation of the results using different demographic groups10. Qualitative data will be analyzed by qualitative methods such as comparisons, focused understanding and grouping them into a list of important finding categories. On the other hand, quantitative data may also be analyzed using statistical or computerized systems such as SPSS. The results will then be presented in graphs, charts, tables or other summarized forms that easily make meaning[12].
Data interpretation will also be done at this stage. The findings of the domestic violence needs assessment will have significant implications on the work of the program as well as the particular services provided to the clients. In seeking to translate the identified community needs into particular program objectives and/or goals, it will be necessary to monitor some of the outcomes of provided services as well as assess whether the needs of the community are being met appropriately with respect to the outlined plan. Finally, the process of conducting the needs assessments will be considered just as part of a counseling program that is ongoing to evaluate the whole issue of domestic violence in the area and how the issues of HIV/AIDs interplay in view of the problem of people living with disabilities. The final results of the assessment will be communicated and discussed among the various stakeholders and used as a tool to implementing the proposed project to curb domestic violence in the community[13].
In conclusion, needs assessment is an important systematic process of evaluating the specific needs of a community with a view of addressing those needs. Despite the general knowledge of issues facing the residents of Thangata district, it will still be necessary to go down to the very community and conduct a detailed needs assessment[14]. This will involve defining the objectives of the assessment, planning the project implementation and designing the approach and methodology of the study. Some of the key methods that will be used include: Surveys, focused groups, community forums and reviewing existing data. Thereafter, the obtained data is analyzed and presented in summaries that can be easily understood[15]. The findings will then be interpreted in line with the set objectives of the study. These findings, which then form basis for implementation of the proposed project to curb domestic violence, will be communicated and discussed among the various stakeholders to achieve optimal implementation plans.
Bibliography
Astramovich, R. L., Hoskins, W. J., and Erford, B. T., Program evaluation and needs assessment for best practices and accountability. Journal of Research and evaluation in counseling, 38/9 (2008), 215-238
Cattaneo, L., and Goodman, L.A., Victim-reported risk factors for continued abusive behavior: Assessing the dangerousness of arrested batterers. Journal of Community Psychology, 31/4 (2010), 349-369
Cesar, E., Community Needs Assessment Guide (GLENDALE: Chavez Foundation, 2008)
Cook, Dorne W., Systematic needs assessment: A primer. Journal of Counseling & Development, 67/9 (2009), 462-464.
Gupta, K., Sleezer, C. M., and Russ-Eft, D. F., A practical guide to needs assessment (San Francisco, CA: John Wiley & Sons, 2011) [16]
Kroll, Harrington L., and Bailey, Sayne M., Needs assessment of children and adolescents. Child Psychology & Psychiatry Journal, 5/21 (2011), 81-88.
Smith, Laban A., et al., Assessing the needs of older gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people: A service-learning and agency partnership approach. Journal of Gerontological Social Work, 53/12 (2010), 387-401.
Vinton, Linda E., et al., Florida’s domestic violence needs assessment for 2006-2007 (Florida: Florida State University Press, 2008)
[1] E., Cesar., Community Needs Assessment Guide (GLENDALE: Chavez Foundation, 2008)
[2] Dorne, Cook, W., Systematic needs assessment: A primer. Journal of Counseling & Development, 67/9 (2009), 462-464.
[3] Cesar, E., Community Needs Assessment Guide (GLENDALE: Chavez Foundation, 2008)
[4] Gupta, K., Sleezer, C. M., and Russ-Eft, D. F., A practical guide to needs assessment (San Francisco, CA: John Wiley & Sons, 2011)
[5] Gupta, K., Sleezer, C. M., and Russ-Eft, D. F., A practical guide to needs assessment (San Francisco, CA: John Wiley & Sons, 2011)
[6] Astramovich, R. L., Hoskins, W. J., and Erford, B. T., Program evaluation and needs assessment for best practices and accountability. Journal of Research and evaluation in counseling, 38/9 (2008), 215-238
[7] Gupta, K., Sleezer, C. M., and Russ-Eft, D. F., A practical guide to needs assessment (San Francisco, CA: John Wiley & Sons, 2011) [7]
[8] Cesar, E., Community Needs Assessment Guide (GLENDALE: Chavez Foundation, 2008)
[9] Cattaneo, L., and Goodman, L.A., Victim-reported risk factors for continued abusive behavior: Assessing the dangerousness of arrested batterers. Journal of Community Psychology, 31/4 (2010), 349-369
[10] Vinton, Linda E., et al., Florida’s domestic violence needs assessment for 2006-2007 (Florida: Florida State University Press, 2008)
[11] Kroll, Harrington L., and Bailey, Sayne M., Needs assessment of children and adolescents. Child Psychology & Psychiatry Journal, 5/21 (2011), 81-88.
[12] Cesar, E., Community Needs Assessment Guide (GLENDALE: Chavez Foundation, 2008)
[13] Smith, Laban A., et al., Assessing the needs of older gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people: A service-learning and agency partnership approach. Journal of Gerontological Social Work, 53/12 (2010), 387-401.
[14] Cattaneo, L., and Goodman, L.A., Victim-reported risk factors for continued abusive behavior: Assessing the dangerousness of arrested batterers. Journal of Community Psychology, 31/4 (2010), 349-369
[15] Gupta, K., Sleezer, C. M., and Russ-Eft, D. F., A practical guide to needs assessment (San Francisco, CA: John Wiley & Sons, 2011)
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